PHUKET: A Danish teenager holidaying on Phuket tried to commit an insurance fraud but failed dismally, police said today.
Officers, aware of the damaging effect on tourism associated with attacks on tourists, checked out the young man's claims with extra thoroughness.
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The teenager will turn 18 later this month but Thai law specifies that minors accused of crimes cannot be named.
''Morty,'' as we will call him, went to the Kamala Police Station, on Phuket's west coast north of Patong, about 5pm today.
He told police that he had been attacked about 1.45am on New Year's Day in darkness at the northern end of Kamala beach, not far from the Novotel now under construction.
He had been to the countdown on Kamala beach, he said. Five Thais were involved in the attack, he said, with one man holding him from behind while others beat him.
He handed over his Omega watch, valued at 95,500 baht, two gold bracelets valued at 20,600 baht, an iPhone5 worth 29,150 baht and a credit card.
After robbing him, the gang carried him to the water's edge and threw him into the sea, ''Morty'' said.
Police questioned beach vendors, checked beachfront security camera footage and called ''Monty'' back for a second interview this evening.
They were less than happy with discrepancies between the first interview and the second interview.
Police took the matter further by checking security camera footage from the Swissotel Phuket, where ''Morty'' was staying with members of his family.
Footage taken earlier today showed ''Morty'' still wearing the Omega and the gold bracelets more than 24 hours after he claimed they had been stolen.
Confronted with the evidence, ''Morty'' confessed he still had the goods that he said were stolen and intended to make an insurance claim once he returned to Denmark.
Because he committed the crime of lying to police while still a minor, the penalty may not be as great as if he had tried it after his 18th birthday later this month.
Officers, aware of the damaging effect on tourism associated with attacks on tourists, checked out the young man's claims with extra thoroughness.
'
The teenager will turn 18 later this month but Thai law specifies that minors accused of crimes cannot be named.
''Morty,'' as we will call him, went to the Kamala Police Station, on Phuket's west coast north of Patong, about 5pm today.
He told police that he had been attacked about 1.45am on New Year's Day in darkness at the northern end of Kamala beach, not far from the Novotel now under construction.
He had been to the countdown on Kamala beach, he said. Five Thais were involved in the attack, he said, with one man holding him from behind while others beat him.
He handed over his Omega watch, valued at 95,500 baht, two gold bracelets valued at 20,600 baht, an iPhone5 worth 29,150 baht and a credit card.
After robbing him, the gang carried him to the water's edge and threw him into the sea, ''Morty'' said.
Police questioned beach vendors, checked beachfront security camera footage and called ''Monty'' back for a second interview this evening.
They were less than happy with discrepancies between the first interview and the second interview.
Police took the matter further by checking security camera footage from the Swissotel Phuket, where ''Morty'' was staying with members of his family.
Footage taken earlier today showed ''Morty'' still wearing the Omega and the gold bracelets more than 24 hours after he claimed they had been stolen.
Confronted with the evidence, ''Morty'' confessed he still had the goods that he said were stolen and intended to make an insurance claim once he returned to Denmark.
Because he committed the crime of lying to police while still a minor, the penalty may not be as great as if he had tried it after his 18th birthday later this month.
''Because he committed the crime of lying to police while still a minor, the penalty may not be as great as if he had tried it after his 18th birthday later this month."
With any luck those celebrations will be in jail and he won't be released until his 19th birthday.
Posted by John on January 2, 2013 23:29